Under League One play-off rules, the final is contested by the two teams which secured an aggregate victory over the two-legged semi-finals contested between the teams finishing between third and sixth in the league table. The game itself ended in a 0–0 draw after extra time, with Huddersfield Town going on to win 8–7 on penalties.

Huddersfield's biggest injury doubt was that of goalkeeper Ian Bennett, who injured his hand during the semi-final second leg against Milton Keynes Dons, with Alex Smithies on standby as his replacement. Scott Arfield had recovered from the ankle injury that forced him off in the semi-final first leg and later forced him to miss the home tie.

Sheffield United's Kevin McDonald picked up a hamstring injury in their 1–0 win in the semi-final second leg, and missed the final. Richard Cresswell had recovered from an eye infection that caused him to miss the previous game, and looked set to feature in the final.[7]

The game was a cagey affair, with Huddersfield creating the most chances. In the first minute of the second half, Town winger Danny Ward hit the angle of the crossbar with a right-footed shot. Later, Harry Maguire headed wide from Stephen Quinn's corner, before Town captain Peter Clarke responded, heading Kallum Higginbotham's corner wide.

In extra time, Clarke came to Huddersfield's rescue in his own penalty area, blocking Stephen Quinn's drive in the 98th minute. Town substitute Alan Lee then failed to score with an angled shot, Simonsen saving in the 109th minute to see the tie through to penalties.

The penalties were taken at the west end of the stadium, in front of the Huddersfield Town fans. Huddersfield were the first team to walk up to the spot, but missed their first three penalties. However, the score was 2–2 after the first five penalties, taking the shoot-out to sudden death. Each side scored their next five penalties, leaving goalkeeper Alex Smithies to be the last of the 11 Huddersfield players to take a penalty, scoring. Sheffield United's last penalty fell to keeper Steve Simonsen, who fired his spot-kick over the bar, securing an 8–7 penalty shoot-out victory for Huddersfield Town in a contest that had all 22 players on the field taking a penalty.[8]